Read Online Sushi for One? by Camy Tang - Free Book Online

make you smile today, coz. There’s a job opening here.”
    “Shut up! No way. For what position?”
    “Uh . . .”
    Oh great. “Don’t try to lie to me, Chester.”
    “Receptionist.”
    Lex groaned. “How much pay?”
    “Minimum wage.”
    What a pay cut. But still — a rare opening at SPZ! Even if SPZ wasn’t one of the hottest new dot coms in Silicon Valley, Lex had only ever dreamed of working at the sports website mecca of North America. Sports, all day, every day. High school, college, and pro.
    Stats galore. It made Lex’s head spin.
    Could she be a receptionist? Just the thought made her cringe a little. Wearing makeup and nice suits and being polite to stupid people? Like Lex didn’t already have to be nice to stu — er, difficult people. “It’s a foot in the door, right, Chester?”
    “Sure. Except for some internal shuffling, SPZ hasn’t hired anyone since last July. And Lex, you’re going to owe me big time — I know the hiring manager personally.”
    “I’ll email you my résumé tonight.”

    “Turn that thing down!” Lex leaned back in her chair to holler through the kitchen door into the living room. The TV volume didn’t move.
    She sounded off. “Dad! Richard!”
    “Okay, okay.” Her older brother Richard slid off the couch and grabbed the remote from the coffee table. The sound of the basketball game lowered a miniscule decibel.
    Lex stared at her archaic laptop. She pushed her chair back so she could lean her forearms on the kitchen table, and the metal feet shuddered against the cracked linoleum.
    “Education: San Jose State University . . .”
    The commentator’s voice cut through her concentration. “Whoa!
    What a shot by Kobe Bryant. The Lakers are up by three . . .”
    “Major: Electrical engineering . . .”
    “Can you feel the heat? Suns tie . . .”
    “Work experience . . . City Beach Volleyball Club: Receptionist . . .” She didn’t have to put down that they fired her after two days, right?
    “Four seconds left, and oh! That foul must’ve hurt . . .”
    “Manufacturing Engineer at Pear Technology for two years . . .”
    “And he missed the second free throw! The Suns have a chance for the playoffs!”
    “Ooh, ooh — ” Lex jumped up from her chair and darted into the living room. She had to see this. She caught Steve Nash sending a beautiful shot sailing through the air, the flicker of camera flashes . . .
    “He did it! Suns win!”
    Lex and Dad roared and pumped victory fists while Richard moaned and sank lower into the sagging couch.
    Lex stepped on something soft as she turned back to the kitchen. Richard’s dirty socks, which he’d pulled off when he arrived at the house earlier tonight. “Richard, you’ve got three other pairs in the corner.” Lex nodded to a stack of gray socks by the end of the couch. She kicked the ones under her feet in his direction too.
    “Oh, good. I’m running out.”
    “And you can’t do laundry here, the washer’s being a pain. Do it at your apartment.”
    “The laundry room charges two bucks!”
    “Not my problem.” Lex walked back into the kitchen.
    Her gaze fell on the stack of plates and cups in the sink. She turned around to shout back into the living room. “And wash your dishes before you leave tonight!”
    “Yeah, yeah.”
    “I mean it!”
    “Dad dirtied dishes too.”
    “And Dad’s usually the one who washes yours! Wash your own dishes tonight!”
    “Is it that time of the month?”
    “I don’t have to cook for you on Sunday, you know.”
    Richard’s groan meant he’d do the dishes. Pizza and Chinese takeout got old fast for a bachelor living by himself.
    Lex sat at the table again and touched the trackpad.
    Nothing. The mouse arrow didn’t move.
    “No! No no no no no!”
    “Whatcha doing?” Richard sauntered into the kitchen and sat in the chair next to her. His arm brushed hers, and she twitched away.
    “Résumé. At least, I was until the computer froze.” She tried a few